Skelmersdale hairdresser spat at and racially abused KFC worker in drunken rant

Feb 9 2012 by Rob Pattinson, Skelmersdale Advertiser

A HAIRDRESSER told a fast food worker to go “back to your own country” and spat at him during a drunken rant in a KFC outlet.

Sarah Fenney, from Whitehey, admitted racially assaulting Ian Serrajuddy after a night out Šdrinking on January 9.

Sefton Magistrates Court heard on Tuesday how Fenney had gone into the KFC, on Eastbank Street, Southport, at 9.40pm after drinking four large glasses of wine and a shot of Sambuca on an empty stomach.

Prosecuting, Sandra McDonald said that the 26-year-old hairdresser had gone on to hurl racist abuse at Mr Serrajuddy before asking him to “come out from behind the counter and fight”.

Ms McDonald said: “After walking away she came back, grabbed a credit card reader off the counter and motioned as if to throw it, causing the victim to fear violence.”

Before leaving, she again racially abused and then spat at him, but missed.

Fenney got on the 375 bus on the street outside but after police were called to the branch, they followed, stopped the bus and arrested her.

ŠIn an interview at Copy Lane police station she said she couldn’t remember any of the events in KFC but accepted she had done it and said her actions were “disgusting”.

Defending, James Burke said Fenney does not have racist views, has a mixed-race boyfriend and had shown genuine remorse. He said she should be given credit for an early guilty plea and that there were “considerable” mitigating personal circumstances . He said that in the last year, Fenney had lost her father, her mother had suffered a brain haemorrhage, and she herself had been diagnosed with a pituitary tumour.ŠAnd he said: “You are dealing with someone under a great deal of stress. Sometimes when people drink they can be sent loopy, and act in a way they would never normally dream of acting.”

Fenney was ordered to pay £85 costs and £50 compensation to the victim. She was given a 12 month community order with a supervision requirement, which includes an alcohol treatment requirement.

Sentencing, chair of the bench Judith Kelly said: “This is a particularly disturbing offence. You would have received a nine month community order but this has been increased by three months in view of the racially aggravated circumstances.”